Mother of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny demands Putin for her son's body release

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny passed away last Friday. The authorities have not given access to the morgue for his family or his colleagues. To date, no one has been allowed to view his body.

Ludmila Navalnaya posted a video taken before her son's death at the penal colony where the opposition leader was held.

"Five days have elapsed since I last saw him. They are refusing to release his body and won't provide any information regarding its location," complained Ludmila Navalnaya.

"I address this to you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this issue depends solely on you. Let me see my son. I insist on the immediate release of Aleksei's body for a humane burial," the grieving mother demanded.

The executive director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (an organization headed by Navalny), Ivan Zhdanov, announced intentions to take legal actions owing to the inactivity of investigators concerning the release of Navalny's body.

Navalny's demise was announced by the prison service at the penal colony on February 16. His mother arrived the following day. She was informed that her son's body was at a morgue in Salekhard. However, upon arrival, she discovered that Navalny's body was not there.

Navalny's press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, later reported that the investigative committee is refusing to release Navalny's body until their investigation concludes.

In the wake of Alexei Navalny's death, several leaders of the European Union have urged for additional sanctions against Russia and its politicians.

Julia Navalnaya, the widow of the deceased oppositionist, has accused Vladimir Putin of her husband's death. She also pledged to carry on with Alexei's work.

"Keep fighting for our country. And I invite you to stand alongside me. Share not only this sorrow and endless pain but also share the rage and hatred for those who dared to rob us of our future," she proclaimed.